Currently there are limited mechanisms in Ireland for tracking mental health expenditure or its effectiveness. Yet accountability is a fundamental principle of human rights. Individuals need to be able to determine whether their government is fulfilling its obligation under human rights to progressively realise their right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This report outlines the requirements to ensure accountability in the delivery of the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change, and develops a performance assessment framework for mental health services in Ireland. The report was commissioned by Amnesty International Ireland (AI) and prepared by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
This report takes place within the context of AI’s work on the right to the highest attainable standard of mental health and Indecon’s previous review of government spending on mental health services and progress on implementation of A Vision for Change, completed in September 2009.
AI’s mental health campaign uses the human rights framework to demand action from Government. It campaigns for a social approach in response to mental health that is focused on people’s rights, in particular, the right to live a full life in the community. One of AI’s main campaign objectives is for the Government to introduce legislation that improves accountability and underpins the provision of appropriate, comprehensive and community-based mental health services.
The data and information gaps highlighted by Indecon’s 2009 review form the basis for this report.

Currently there are limited mechanisms in Ireland for tracking mental health expenditure or its effectiveness. Yet accountability is a fundamental principle of human rights. Individuals need to be able to determine whether their government is fulfilling its obligation under human rights to progressively realise their right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This report outlines the requirements to ensure accountability in the delivery of the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change, and develops a performance assessment framework for mental health services in Ireland. The report was commissioned by Amnesty International Ireland (AI) and prepared by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
This report takes place within the context of AI’s work on the right to the highest attainable standard of mental health and Indecon’s previous review of government spending on mental health services and progress on implementation of A Vision for Change, completed in September 2009.
AI’s mental health campaign uses the human rights framework to demand action from Government. It campaigns for a social approach in response to mental health that is focused on people’s rights, in particular, the right to live a full life in the community. One of AI’s main campaign objectives is for the Government to introduce legislation that improves accountability and underpins the provision of appropriate, comprehensive and community-based mental health services.
The data and information gaps highlighted by Indecon’s 2009 review form the basis for this report.